Flemington around the track with Brad Waters Saturday August 12

Brad Waters - Monday August 14

Michelle Payne has caused a few ripples in the UK while a weird sight greeted punters in the public area at Flemington on Saturday.

Advertisement
What? Never seen a bloke in a wedding dress at the races before?

SYMPATHY FOR PAYNE IN UK WALKOUT

It's hard to blame Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne for bailing out of a press call promoting Saturday's Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot.

Payne left the media event held in a London pub feeling unwell after giving two hours of interviews and posing for pictures, with local media reporting the jockey swore at an Ascot representative before leaving.

"She said we'd be two hours then they'd have a car bring us back. Four hours later she said "no you can't leave and you have to speak to all these interviews'' – six more — asking all the same questions, and that the car wasn't ready to go back anyway," Payne told the Herald-Sun.

"Usually I'm pretty tough but they were asking too much.''

Her departure made worldwide headlines but I sympathise with the jockey on this occasion.

The travel from Melbourne to England can be taxing and her brother-in-law, leading Sydney-based rider Kerrin McEvoy, was too ill to attend the event.

Reports suggest Payne was asked to stay at the media conference for four hours answering the same questions on auto-repeat, which can be draining on anyone even when 100 percent right.

Locally, the build-up to the Melbourne Cup places big media demands on both Australian and international participants but nothing like a four-hour stretch repeating the replies to similar questions.

Australian and international media are happy to do 'all-in' press conferences with Cup contenders, which take 10 minutes tops after a horse has galloped at the Werribee quarantine centre.

Payne must pass a doctor's examination to take her rides in the Shergar Cup.

NATION IMMEDIATELY GIVES NEW OWNERS SOMETHING AT FLEMINGTON

Has Gerry Harvey sold Sovereign Nation too early?

The retail mogul and Magic Millions boss sold Sovereign Nation to a syndicate that includes Mark Pilkington and Darren Thomas after his last-start third at Flemington last month.

Sovereign Nation carried the colours of his new owners to victory in the VRC Member Graeme McMenamin Handicap (1400m) when he dashed to a 4¼ length win, which prompted co-trainer Tom Dabernig to suggest a Group I target could be on the cards for Sovereign Nation.

"He loves being fresh and I think the 1400m, maybe up to a mile, is his best distance," Dabernig, who trains Sovereign Nation in partnership with David and Ben Hayes, said.

"We have been thinking that he could be a Group I style of handicap horse down in the weights."

Sovereign Nation has won two of his four starts since being gelded after his summer campaign.

BRAVE BUCK STANDS OUT IN FLEMINGTON GLOOM

A wedding dress was always going to stand out in the sparse Flemington public area on Saturday but the fact a bloke was wearing it made the vision even weirder.

Buck Matt Laskey (pictured above) headed to Flemington with a bunch of mates to celebrate his buck's day at the races but the boys had a little surprise for the groom when he arrived on course.

A "stitch-up" left Laskey wearing a white dress but it didn't stop him enjoying the day with a few beers and a bet with his mates at Flemington.

Laskey's fianceé was off celebrating her hens' day in Brisbane while he was wandering the Flemington public area in a gown the lads carefully selected at a Salvation Army clothing store.

Laskey's friends, including a mate that travelled from Airlie Beach in Queensland for the day, had to be careful they didn't step on the train of the flowing white gown as the wearer strode around Flemington.

Good luck to Matt and the future Mrs Laskey, who will be married on September 23.

STAN THE MAN BACK ON WINNER'S LIST AFTER EIGHT YEARS

Jockey Stan Tsaikos was right to give a little fist pump after booting home Jocka's Truce in the Vickery Bros Maiden (1000m) at Coleraine.

Jocka's Truce started as a $41 chance at the Victorian provincial meeting but it meant plenty to Tsaikos because it was his first victory since he returned to the saddle from a broken leg earlier this year.

Tsaikos spent more than six years out of the saddle because of complications from a back injury he sustained in a fall in 2009 before a barrier accident last year cost him another 12 months away from racing.

ARMCHAIR PUNTER SHOULD HAVE PLENTY IN THE KICK

My esteemed colleague 'The Armchair Punter' Stephen Brassel, who predicted Damien Oliver was on the verge of a resurgence in his column last week, should have had a good week following the champion jockey.

TAP noted, "Damien Oliver has had a tough start to the new season failing to find the placings in five rides at Sale on Wednesday and again at Flemington on Saturday but it won't be long before the champ is back on top".

Oliver produced a double strike at last Sunday's Sandown meeting, including a win on the $41 chance Journeygirl, before notching a win on the Geelong Synthetic circuit and a victory aboard the Chris Waller-trained Wayanka at Flemington on Saturday.

The week could have been even better for Oliver, who was narrowly beaten aboard Cannyescent in Saturday's Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Aussie Globetrotting Mare Now Calls Woodside Home
Woodside Park have released a list of their quality mares set to visit new recruit Celestial Legend this spring and one of them is Aussie bred Group II winner Nafaayes, who produced a promising 2YO winner overnight in the UK.
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
Big win earns Group I spring targets for Sovereign Nation
Sovereign Nation has earned a crack at Group I targets in the spring following his comfortable win in Saturday’s Graeme McMenamin Handicap (1400m) at Flemington.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.
Te Akau Stars Warm Up at Taupo Trials
Perennial bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha headlined a strong contingent of trialists out of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable at Taupo on Monday.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 4
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Elite Broodmare Band Booked to Celestial Legend
Woodside Park Stud is proud to announce they are sending an outstanding group of broodmares to visit their exciting young sire Celestial Legend.